Joanne Harris Interviewed by Suzi Feay

Chocolat author Joanne Harris talks about her life and work and a return to her best-known characters with her new novel The Strawberry Thief. After this event Harris will receive the honorary fellowship of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival.

The Strawberry Thief is the fourth novel to follow the life of Vianne Rocher and her fellow villagers in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes – a series that includes Chocolat, turned into an Oscar-winning movie starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, The Lollipop Shoes and Peaches for Monsieur Le Curé. Vianne and her daughter Rosette have settled in the village and are now part of the community. The death of Narcisse the florist, however, throws the village once more into disarray.

Harris was a teacher for 15 years before turning to full-time writing. Other work includes the fantasy novels based on Norse myth, Runemarks, Runelight and The Gospel of Loki, and a series of dark psychological thrillers, including Different Class. She has been a judge on the Whitbread and Orange prizes. Here she talks to journalist and reviewer for the FT Suzi Feay.

Previous recipients of the honorary fellowship have been Anthony Horowitz (2018), Dame Penelope Lively (2017), Sir Alan Ayckbourn (2016), David Lodge (2015), Jan Morris (2014), Philip Pullman (2013), William Boyd (2012), Sir Kazuo Ishiguro (2011), Dame Antonia Byatt (2010) and Baroness P D James (2009).